Airmen deployed to maintain the U-2 Dragon Lady for its mission over Southwest Asia have amassed more than 155 consecutive launches of the high-flying reconnaissance aircraft without a maintenance-related cancellation. The crews of the 99th Aircraft Maintenance Unit from Beale AFB, Calif., perform “day in and day out,” with “awesome teamwork,” said MSgt. Craig Van Valkenburgh, the 99th AMU production supervisor.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
